Thursday, November 22, 2012

Faith Beyond Fish and Bread

Mark 811 The Pharisees came and began to question Jesus. To test him, they asked him for a sign from heaven. 12 He sighed deeply and said, “Why does this generation ask for a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to it.” 13 Then he left them, got back into the boat and crossed to the other side.Lord Jesus--I can miss the point so easily. Your work in my life is not about proof...signs and wonders. They are points that lead in a direction. There is nothing that is random or without a purpose. All of them are to be used to point toward you...I just need to look for the intention and the direction. The point is not fish, bread or whatever the present tense need is. The point is deeper and wider than that.The point is that no matter what face the present need may take, you are going to use them to shape me and mold me. It is not random circumstance no matter how much it appears to be the case on this side of the looking glass. There is intention...there is molding that is going on...there is obedience that is called for. It looks much different from my end of the heaven to earth continuum It looks, random, hopeless and chaotic at best. But then you know that better than I do...

I understand what drove these leaders of their faith to look for understanding, and sure things. The problem is simple. The only sure thing is that you will continue to lead. The next steps will always require faith...there will be the need to reach beyond what is a sure thing. Faith and grace are never from each other.14 The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat. 15 “Be careful,” Jesus warned them. “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod.”Lord Jesus-When you were talking about yeast...it had nothing to do with fish and bread. It had everything to do with the way that these religious elite approached the world and especially the way that they approached God. They approached you through what they knew expecting it was the whole of revelation. You surprised them you moved beyond their limited categories...so often you surprise me. Don't allow me to get hardening of the categories. The faith walk continues far beyond my limited ability to understand...beyond my limited theological and ecclesiastical categories. In the journey that awaits me today, focus my heart on the things that are really important. Not fish and bread but your leadership...so much to rejoice in and be thankful for...